A: This is common question I get from my Chinese college
students. What I think about
premarital sex, in other words, whether or not I agree or disagree with it is
irrelevant. Teenagers in China,
and all over the world, are going to engage in premarital sex regardless of
what anyone thinks or feels. In
fact, China has witnessed a steady growth in teens engaging in premarital sex
since the Open Door and Reform Era policies began in 1976. This increasing trend of Chinese
teenagers engaging in premarital sex has been coupled with decreasing access to
accurate sexual health education resources. The result is an alarming increase in unwanted pregnancies,
abortions conducted in secrecy, and the spread of sexually transmitted
infections including HIV/AIDS.

As previously stated, my personal opinion about premarital
teen sex is not important. What is
vitally important is the recognition that Chinese teens, as well as teens all
over the world, are actively seeking out and engaging in sexual activity. With that fact in mind, I feel it is
imperative that all teens have easy access to accurate and reliable sexual
health education and contraceptive technologies, especially condoms. Teens need to be aware of the possible
negative consequences of premarital sex (i.e., pregnancy and STIs), know about
the available contraceptive methods (i.e., condoms, birth control pills, etc.),
how to effectively use them, and where to safely obtain them. I also feel that it is important that
all teens learn how to communicate about sex with each other. Teens need to know how to talk about
their sexual preferences, feel comfortable saying “no” to sexual activity, and
practice how to demand safer sex practices from their partner(s).